Best Adult Kick Scooter | Complete Rider Guide (2024)

by | Last modified on Jan 1, 2024 | Advice

When I thought about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never imagined that I might become an expert in adult kick scooters! Unintentionally, I should add. I’ve done two long-distance kick-scooter challenges –  the first was Scoot the Loop, a 150-mile five-day kickscoot on the London Loop trail. Then, in 2018, I took that to the next level with Kicking the States. I spent three months kick scooting the entire length of the USA. Covering a total of 1,750 miles!

To be clear, that was on manual, un-motorised kick scooters!

While preparing for and doing these adventures, I spent a lot of time researching and understanding everything there is to know about kick scooters for adults (sometimes also called push scooters). Which are the best models? The advantages and disadvantages? Is there really a big difference between the expensive and budget options? How far can they comfortably carry you?

I’ve put everything I’ve learned into this best adult kick scooter guide.

outdoor sponsorship and adventure sponsorship

This is me on the Kicking the States adventure – reaching the halfway mark and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge!

Adult Kick Scooters: Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • As they are not officially defined as a bike, in most cases, you can scoot on either the road or pavement.
  • They are beyond fun going downhill!
  • There is no skill to riding them; you just kick and getting the balance right feels very intuitive.
  • They’re lightweight and easy to move around and transport.

Cons:

  • They are rubbish going uphill (you have to get off and push)
  • You are stood up on your feet, which is more tiring than being sat on a bike.
  • They are slower than a bike and not so flexible with working on different terrains.
  • There are few storage options, although some models do fold down for storage.
  • People think you are weird for owning one if you are over the age of 15 (lol!).

How fit do you need to be to ride a kick scooter?

Honestly, not very fit. Mainly because it’s pretty easy to take things at a leisurely pace on a scooter.

Unlike a bike, where you need to get your bum and legs used to using different muscles, I found that kick-scooting was using existing muscle memory. It’s a similar movement to going upstairs or doing a lunge.

Riding kick scooters are ideal for taking short journeys – popping to the shops or commuting to and from work that is not too far away. But they can also be used for longer journeys.

When we did Kicking the States we were travelling about 50km (30 miles) a day on our scooters. This would take us about 5-6 hours of scooting to cover this distance. On our biggest day, we covered 80km (50 miles).

The areas that got sore after a lot of kick scooting were the legs (particularly the knees) and lower back. After a long day of scooting, these parts of the body would be achy. And also my hands – if there was a lot of downhill, the heavy breaking took a fair bit of work and I found my hands would get stiff and the skin rough. This shouldn’t be an issue for shorter journeys though.

I think the biggest downfall is that all the scooters I tried came up a bit short for me. I’m 5″9, so fairly tall for a woman. While most of the adult kick-scooters are adjustable, even on the highest setting, I find I’m slumped over a bit. While this isn’t ideal, for most short rides – say if you were looking for an adult kick scooter for a 20-minute commute – you wouldn’t really notice this.

adventure on a kick scooter

4 Best Adult Kick-Scooters for 2024

There isn’t a huge range of adult kick-scooters available, so your options are limited. But there’s enough on the market to get yourself kitted out with the right adult kick scooter for you. You’ll notice that they vary significantly in cost from £70 all the way up to £2,000 and what you buy will depend very much on what you intend to use it for.

1. Yedoo Friday **TOP PICK**

*Best all-round quality kick-scooter*

Buy now
Max weight: 150kg
RRP: £350 / $410

After trying multiple scooter options for our big adventure, we settled on using a Friday Yedoo scooter for our epic challenge. And these scooters did not disappoint!

Starting at £350 these scooters offer an excellent mid-range option. But are by far the best quality and most comfortable to ride. Although they offer big-wheel adult scooter options (like the Yedoo Rodstr), we opted for a Friday Scooter – which was a good balance for lightweight urban scooting while also having the power to take us up and down large hills.

Scooting on a Yedoo felt effortless and offered a smooth ride. They come with suspension. Rear and front braking. And 16″ rubber tires front and back (which you can repair if you get a puncture – same as you would on a bike) and rubber handles.

These scooters really are beautiful to ride!

CON: It’s hard to fault the Yedoo Friday, but there is one feature that is a bit restrictive. The height adjustment on the handlebars is pretty limited so this might not be a good option for anyone really tall.

2. SCHWINN SHUFFLE Fun vintage-style kick scooter

*Best for exercise and recreational scooting

See on Amazon
Max weight: 99kg or 220 pounds
RRP: £160-250 / $200-300

The Schwinn Shuffle is a fun, stylish adult kick scooter option with a classic, vintage look.

It has large 26-inch front and 20-inch rear air-filled wheels for a smooth ride. The steel frame and alloy brakes provide durability. It can support riders up to 200 pounds and fits a range of adult heights.

The Schwinn Shuffle is great for commuting or recreational neighbourhood rides, offering a new way to get out and be active. Key features include the cruiser-style handlebars, front and rear fenders, and linear-pull brakes for precise stopping power.

Overall, the Schwinn Shuffle kick scooter provides a fun and easy way to ride around with its classic styling and large wheels. It’s a good option for casual adult use.

CON: The Schwinn Shuffle is larger and heavier (12kg) than most commuter scooters, so it takes up more storage space. It is also not foldable.

3. LaScoota Adult Kick Scooter

*Best commuter adult kick scooter*

See on Amazon
Max weight: 105kg
RRP: £68 / $55

The Lascoota is one of the most affordable adult kick scooters on the market. Despite its low price tag, this scooter is really well made. It’s sturdy and feels good quality when putting up and riding.

The scooter has a wider deck with grip, making it more comfortable to ride compared with other kick scooters in a similar price range. It can be adjusted to 99cm in height. There’s suspension and wear-resistent wheels which make for a nice smooth ride. I especially love the feel of the grip on the handles and find the brakes reliable and comfortable to use.

Another great feature of the Lascoota is that it folds in half at the push of a button. It also comes with a carry strap. This, along with it’s affordable price tag, makes it the best option for anyone looking for a casual or commuting adult kick scooter.

CONS: Design-wise, these scooters are basic. You will feel every bump and have little control if moving at speed – they aren’t going to be super comfy to ride. The lifeline on a basic cheap scooter like this isn’t going to be long and they can’t take as much weight as other models.

4. GrAvity M1o Trail

*Best off-road kick scooter*

Buy now
Max weight: 150kg
RRP: £750 / $800

This is a good kick-scooter for heavy adults or if you are planning to use the kick-scooter on rough terrain (ie, off-road).

The best option for adult scooters with big wheels is, without doubt, Gravity Scooters. They have a vast range of scooters varying from £450 (their cheapest make is the Urban black) all the way up to £2,000.

We used the Gravity M10 Trail scooter on our Scoot the Loop challenge, which was predominantly off-road scooting. It was a good off-road model, offering versatility and excellent suspension. They have big rubber wheels (a larger wheel at the front, smaller at the back). A front and back handle-bar brake system and a higher footstand improve clearance. Some models come with a dual suspension.

These scooters are built for speed, and to last. Gravity Scooters can be also adapted for mushing (being pulled along by dogs).

CON: Their biggest downfall is the fact that they are large and heavy to lug around and also that they are one of the lowest scooters in terms of height.

5. SwiftyAIR

*Most stylish scooter*

Buy now
Max weigh: 150kg
RRP: £650 / $720

Swifty Scooters are considered one of the best kick scooters for adults commuting, especially in the UK, where you’ll see them being used around London or ridden by celebrities.  Swifty Scooters are not cheap, with a starting price of £650. Goin up to £840 for a folding version.

There is no doubt what you are paying for – style!

Swifty Scooters look nice. They are lightweight and have attractive finishing touches, like cork handlebars. Rear and front handle-bar breaks. Some of their models also fold down. The folding mechanism is simple but not as small as a Razor or WeSkate but enough to make it functional as a kick scooter for adults commuting.

CON: Their biggest downfall? For me, they aren’t sturdy enough to justify the price tag. While they look great, they need to be a bit stronger in design. I tried out a Swifty Scooter for a day of riding and had to fix the breaks after just a few hours in.

Kick scooter Panniers, Bags & Accessories

One of the biggest downfalls of a kick-scooter is not having the space for storage as you would do with a regular bike. Of course, you can carry your bag on your back. But this isn’t always comfortable.

For both my kick-scooter challenges, I adapted the scooters so that I could add a waterproof pannier to help carry some of my gear. Here are your options:

#1 Single pannier on the front

For Kicking the States, we travelled super lightweight. We modified our handlebar to add a pole so a 17L bike pannier could slot onto the front (see more pictures here). This worked amazingly.

It was so easy getting the pannier on and off, and surprisingly, it didn’t affect the balance of the scooter. In fact, the extra weight made steering a little bit more stable. The pannier just slots on and off, so it is easy to take off when you stop for a coffee or arrive somewhere.

Kick scooters for heavy adults

#2 Double Pannier over the front wheel

This only works well if you have a large front wheel. You can attach back pannier support to the front and hang small panniers on both sides. This gives you more storage and doesn’t interfere with steering, although it makes the Scooter wider.

kick scooter touring

#3 Platform on the back and front

This is how Dave Cornthwaite set up his scooter for his Japan scooter trip. Swifty Scooters modified a platform on the back and front, which you can put a bag on top. I can’t comment on how this affects the scooting, although I personally felt like the back platform might get in the way when your foot kicks back.

kcik scooter pannier

Essential adult kick-scooter accessories:

  • A helmet is a necessary safety kick (here’s the one I use)!
  • If you do opt to find a storage solution, I highly recommend this bike pannier. 17-20 litres should be enough!
  • Lights will allow you to kick-scoot at night safely. There’s no way to attach a light to the back of the scooter, so we opted for a Topside helmet light, which was a brilliant bit of kit. It omits an impressive beam and is rechargeable.
  • A water bottle holder can be attached to the front of the handlebars for easy access. Alternatively, you can use a hydration backpack, which is better for carrying larger amounts of water with you.
Overboard Panniers

Looking for an electric adult scooter?

Adult electric scooters (also called adult motor scooters or simply e-scooters) are starting to rise in popularity, especially since companies like Bird in Los Angeles started installing electric scooters that people can hire to get around the city.

They aren’t quite as practical as a regular kick-scooter. You need to weigh up charge time, additional weight that the motor adds, and also the additional restrictions you’ll have as you’re now travelling at speed.

Here are some of the best motor scooters or E-scooters for adults on the market:

  • Best budget option for a cheap motor adult scooter: Razor
    For its price (ranges between $200-$300), this scooter is perfect for short journeys. With a max speed of 20km and foldable features, it’s ideal for an electric commuter scooter.
  • Best e-kick scooters for heavy adults or off-road: Gravity E-Scooters
    Sturdy, comfortable, and with large wheels. A gravity E-scooter will work on most terrains, including steep off-road downhills. Max speed 25km
  • Best for multi-use: Swifty scooter motor kit
    An electric kit will set you back £800 but this can be added to any scooter with the correct front forks width for the 100mm hub motor. You can travel up to 10 miles on one charge.
electric adult scooter for commuting

Inspiration from other adult kick scooter-ers!

To give you some inspiration, here are adventures people have made on adult kick scooters. You can also check out my guide on the best electric balance bikes for kids and toddlers for a different take on two-wheeled fun.

Best kick scooters for adults

Writing this guide took me a long time, drawing together all my research. If you’d like to say thanks, you can buy me a coffee! I use the money to pay for the hosting and domain to keep this site going.

If you are new to this blog, I’m Bex Band – a full-time adventurer and founder of Britain’s largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. I’m on a mission to make getting outdoors and adventures as easy as possible. You can sign up to my newsletter here. Also, check out my award-winning published book Three Stripes South, all about my first big adventure hiking the length of Israel.

If you have any questions, please use the comments box below. And don’t forget to give me a follow on Facebook and Instagram!

Bex Band

Bex Band

Welcome to my blog! I'm an award-winning adventurer, bestselling author and founder of Love Her Wild. My work and adventures have featured in BBC, The Guardian and Condé Nast. I love nothing more than travelling and getting outdoors on solo and family adventures. Using my years of experience, I provide advice and inspiration on various topics, including wild camping, charity challenges, glamping and travel itineraries.

39 Comments

  1. nishtha chopra

    Hey, really enjoyed reading your post. Do you have any recommendations for hybrid scooters (combination of e-scooter and manual) ? I would like to cover about 10km regularly. Manual-all terrane scooters are great for long distances but they are heavy to carry uphill whereas for e-scooters, I am wary of battery life (charging and travel time). A machine with both functionality i.e. sturdiness of manual (<10kg) and motor power of e-scooter(minimum battery life of about 40mins) would be a good option.

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Thanks! Check out Yedoo (better of the 2 options) and Swifty scooters. As both of this have battery attachments to their regular scooters they are hybrids and work well with or without.

      Reply
    • Ricardl

      Zumaround is the only true hybrid scooter I’ve found. Do you know of any others?

      Reply
    • Millie

      This is great! We just purchased a large wheel kick scooter for both me and husband. Wondering if you have tips on the type of trailer we could use to transport them on road trips. Have you seen anything you would recommend?

      Reply
      • Bex Band

        I can’t say I’ve seen anyone using a trailer before so don’t have any tips on this. I’d be interested to hear from you if you do manage to make this work!

        Reply
  2. Nick

    hey, Thanks for a wonderful article. I am 20 years old and 80 kg. Now I want to buy a razor A5 lux scooter. I listened it is the best kick scooter. I always like riding on uphill. Does this scooter is perfect for me? Or can you suggest me a best scooter for my travel?

    Reply
    • Christine Filas

      Razor A5 Prime, beautiful and very well built.

      Reply
  3. Thelma A McCreery

    how to remove speed limit in ms energy neutron n3 ??? max its 25 how to get speed to 28 or 30 kmh ???? help all plz

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      No idea!!!

      Reply
  4. SH

    Great post. I’m really interested in the Yedoo Friday scooter. Been riding xootr for over 15 years. I wish the roads were better by me. Xootr is best ridden on smooth asphalt.
    Question. Do you find the Yedoo Friday deck easy to ride from over distances?

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      I used my Yedoo to travel the length of the States from Canada to Mexico with realitive ease. It’s a really brilliant scooter and I got into the rhythm of riding it with no problems 🙂

      Reply
    • Ondrej Postulka

      Hi if you like to you ca join our kick scooter community in uk
      You can find our group at FB “kick scooters in UK “

      Thank you Ondre

      Reply
      • Bex Band

        I’d love to join!

        Reply
  5. Phil

    A super helpful well rounded and informative post!

    It got me very interested in getting a Yedoo. You mentioned the limited height adjustment. Do you mean it doesn’t go very high? I’m 6’4″, so trying to work out if there are any that are suitable without extra purchases.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Thanks Phil! I’m 5’9 and found the Yedoo to be a good height for me. I think from 6foot though you might find it a bit too short. This is likely to be the case across all the kick scooters I tried so you might want to look into extendable options.

      Reply
      • Christine Filas

        Check out reviews of Razor A5 Prime scooter on YouTube, the handlebars are very adjustable.

        Reply
  6. Jeannie Hunter

    I would love to hear from any of the MUCH older generation who have actually used (still riding) something like this and your thoughts.

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Have you tried reaching out on Facebook groups for ‘scooterers’? I’ve spoken to a couple of older people who ride kick scooters so there is definitely a community out there 🙂

      Reply
  7. Susan Philips

    I have a question. I am an old lady and know nothing about scooters. My son in law has a big wheeled scooter and he likes to put his 7 yr old daughter on the front of his scooter to ride rather than letting her ride with him on her own kid scooter. I say that it is made for one person and is very unsafe. He disagrees. Can you tell me if there is any literature saying that two can ride safely in one scooter? Thank you for responding.

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      I’m not sure Susan – perhaps get in contact with the companies directly to find out.

      Reply
  8. Robert Hardy-Pickering

    Hi, I have a big wheel kick bike (26” front 20” back) , I want to take it away for a staycation, but I can’t seem to find a suitable carrier to transport the scooter by /on the car. Any ideas of what type of carrier is best (roof or on the rear?)
    Great post, help and insightful for someone who’s definitely the other side of 65!!

    Reply
  9. Meg

    Yedoo- please tell me these can be purchased in the US. So far I can’t find any dealer except one that carries only kids versions. I would love to find a Friday for my partner. We live in Florida. Thank you!

    Reply
      • Meg

        Thank you! I’ll do that!

        Reply
  10. kougy

    Hello,
    How many km (or miles) can be done per day with a kickbike like Yedoo? I want to make the tour of Europe with a scooter. A bicycle can do 50 to 100 km and even more per day depending on fitness and terrain etc. Can a scooter with large bike wheels do that? Thanks

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      It can definitely cover the distance but will take you longer – at least double the time as you would spend on a bike. Most days we covered about 50km a day.
      It also depends greatly on how many hills are in your way as they will slow you down to walking pace. The biggest day we did was 80km and that was a killer!
      Sounds like a great adventure – good luck!

      Reply
  11. Joe

    Great article thank you so much! I am hoping to scooter around NYC without spending too much on a scooter. I am trying to figure out if I can use a scooter with polyurethane wheels or is it going to be too bumpy/dangerous? If so is the Razor A5 Air the best portable air tire option?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      I can’t advise as I’ve not travelled long distances on a scooter like this. I’d suggest doing some longer scoots and see how it fairs.

      Reply
    • Christine Filas

      Razor A5 Prime is an awesome scooter. Hard 8 inch wheels no worrying about flats. Nice looking and fun to ride. It’s available on Amazon

      Reply
  12. Andy

    Great post. I currently ride both a Xootr Mg and Xootr Street, and they are great for city commuting.
    Have you ever used Xootr and what do you think of them?

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Thank you! I’ve not had a chance yet to ride a Xootr but it’s good to hear they are ideal for city commuting.

      Reply
  13. Deep

    Thanks Bex. I started scooting in the past 3 months (in my 40s) and am keen now to try a long distance ‘micro adventure’. Do you have any links you can share for kick scooter clubs in Sydney or any kick scooter adventurers based in NSW?

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Amazing! I hope you have as much fun as I did. I don’t know of any. Although the best kind of adventures I think are the ones when you are the first so I hope this doesn’t put you off 🙂

      Reply
  14. Ricardo

    Do you know of any hybrid models besides zumaround? I want a kick/push scooter because it is a good exercise but with a bit of battery help. My commute is 10-12km. It is too much for push scooter for everyday. I need a little battery assistance.

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      I don’t – I think hybrid scooters are a fairly new concept.

      Reply
  15. James

    Highly recommend the fluid horizon scooter if you want to have a scooter that will take you miles over this terrain and last

    Reply
  16. Christine Filas

    Not a comment but a question. I am trying to find out the deck height of the Razor A5 prime kick scooter. I am old and short with bad knees so I want the deck to be as low to the ground as possible. Forget telling me to contact Razor. Those retards don’t know the deck height of the scooter.

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      I don’t know the exact height but the deck heights on Razors are never very high – they’re mostly suitable for city riding.

      Reply

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